Goodnotes Logo PNG
The Goodnotes logo embodies the app’s spirit of innovation and determination. The symbol is inspired by the idea of transforming digital devices into convenient tools for handwritten note enthusiasts. The emblem combines creativity and functionality, making the app an indispensable assistant in everyday tasks.
Goodnotes: Brand overview
While attending college in Australia and studying math and physics, Steven Chan felt the existing options for digital handwritten note-taking on his iPad were insufficient. During a semester break in 2011, he tackled the issue head-on by developing the initial version of Goodnotes. The app quickly found a receptive audience, particularly among students, and Steven managed the project on his own for its first half-decade.
Feeling the need to expand his initial concept into something more expansive, Steven started assembling a global team in 2016. The Goodnotes staff has grown to include over 40 individuals, contributing to the app’s development and success. The platform has made a name for itself on the global stage as one of the premier apps for taking notes, boasting an active user base in the tens of millions.
To further broaden the app’s capabilities, Goodnotes secured $6 million in seed funding from Race Capital in 2020. This investment aimed to transform Goodnotes from a simple note-taking app into a platform for sharing notes. By 2022, the app’s popularity and influence were officially acknowledged when it received Apple’s “iPad App of the Year” award. What began as Steven Chan’s college side gig in 2011 has evolved over a decade into a global leader in the note-taking app space.
Meaning and History
Before 2021
2021 – 2023
2023 – today
The 2023 Goodnotes logo is designed to fully reflect the app’s character: ease, convenience, and openness to creative ideas. The design combines clean lines with playful details, demonstrating the brand’s friendliness and accessibility.
On the left is a neat square with softly rounded corners. Inside it are three simple symbols: blue horizontal lines resembling a sheet of paper, a curved line shaped like a smile, and a pencil. The lines form the structure of a page suited for capturing ideas, while the smile creates a positive mood from using the app. The diagonal orientation of the pencil conveys the feeling of an active creative process.
The word Goodnotes is placed to the right, written in a soft, sans-serif typeface. The roundness of the letters, visible in forms such as “G,” “t,” and “s,” harmonizes with the graphic symbols on the left. Together, they create a unified impression of lightness and comfort.
The color scheme is limited to two tones: black, used for the text, and the pencil, which conveys reliability and simplicity; the blue shade inside the square creates a sense of freshness and neatness, emphasizing order in recording thoughts and ideas.
The name “Goodnotes” directly relates to the app’s purpose — helping people create high-quality notes without unnecessary effort, highlighting the accessibility and practicality of its features. The visual design communicates that writing down thoughts can be easy and enjoyable.